For more information about the run and to see the other pages of our Fun Run brochure go to THE FUN RUN on this website​Our new website is up, running and taking registrations.lindfieldrotaryfunrun.org.au

It is a good idea to look through the notice board below, find something that interests you and then come along and join us. You will be our guest for the first meeting, so you will be able to have a really great free meal and check us out at the same time. Why not come along?You will be really welcome!

Apologies - Existing members should remember that they should contact David Morris by 12 noon on the Friday before the meeting.david.morris@siliconspinder.com.au,​tel 0412 172 004

Our meetings are held on Monday nights at Killara Golf Club, 556 Pacific Highway, Killara, NSW, Australia, 2071, at 6.30 for 7pm. It is always possible to come along to a meeting and check us out. It is not necessary to be a Rotary member, or to know any one of us. We are keen to welcome new members and are looking forward to meeting you. Contact Garry McIntosh Secretary Rotary Club of Lindfield, Mob 0418 162 756 ​or Joy Saunders, joyjoy1@optusnet.com.au to get in touch.

The ROTARY FOUNDATION​ receives highest rating from Charity Navigator

​For the 10th consecutive year, The Rotary Foundation has received the highest rating — four stars — from Charity Navigator, an independent evaluator of charities in the U.S.In the most recent ratings, the Foundation earned the maximum of 100 points for demonstrating both strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency.In a letter to the Foundation, Charity Navigator notes that "only 1 percent of the charities we evaluate have received at least 10 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that The Rotary Foundation outperforms other charities in America. This exceptional designation from Charity Navigator sets The Rotary Foundation apart from its peers and demonstrates to the public its trustworthiness."The rating reflects Charity Navigator's assessment of how the Foundation uses donations, sustains its programs and services, and practices good governance and openness.

WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER ​JOINING ROTARY

ROTARY IN AUSTRALIA

In February 1921 the Board of the International Association of Rotary Clubs authorised the establishment of Rotary clubs in Australia and New Zealand.Melbourne became the first club in Australia to be chartered and Sydney soon followed. Brisbane and Adelaide were formed in 1923, Hobart a year later and Perth in 1926. Meanwhile, Rotary was being extended to provincial cities and large towns and by 1928 there were 17 clubs in Australia. For the purposes of administration, Rotary clubs throughout the world are allocated into districts.A Rotary district covers a number of clubs within a defined geographical area. Australia became District 65 in 1928. By the 75th anniversary of Rotary’s arrival in Australia, there were 23 districts with 1,178 clubs and some 42,000 members.

On Monday the 19th of March our guest speaker will be Claire McCarthy fromWestmead Children's Hospital. She will speak to us about Bear Cottage.

On the 3rd March there will be a partners lunch ​at Burnt Orange - come with or without a partner.

On the 19th May we will have a Royal Wedding Dinnerat Sous Le Soleil restaurant, Roseville.

Following a recent chance meeting with Terrence Beard, Parent Committee Chairman of 1st Lindfield Scout Group, Terrence and the Group leader, Tony Snepp, will now join us to present some ideas about strengthening the ties between our two organisations.

President Bruce takes a spin around the tracks after our donation of a hoist to Fresh Tracks. This hoist will be used to help participants on to their bikes.

Yvonne Taylor accepts her woman of the year award

RYLA Youth NightThe combined meeting with Ku-ring-gai and Lindfield was most positive for all. We shared a camaraderie and then heard from three young, intelligent people about their personal experiences at the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) and Rotary Youth Awards (RYLA). Their presentations showed great humour and the joy of being part of their programs. Both clubs assisted Lauren Lancaster, a Year 12 Hornsby High School student) to attend the NYSF program in Canberra for 12 days. This young lady is interested in Ecology/Sustainability and showed us the intensity of her passion and interest in her address to us. This program, similar to RYLA, is run by young people for young people and is the key to its success as they communicate more freely with each other. While the Science components are the basic format the participants have many other activities to share great fellowship and during the time make friendships that are inspiring and long lasting. Lauren made many new friends and was so in spired she hopes to attend an international program to be held in London next year. We wish her the very best.Dean Bevitt and Chris Skelleran were our two RYLA candidates and showed us exactly why our own Dean Youlee encouraged them to apply. Dean who is currently studying Arts/Psychology (Honours) is working towards involvement in neuropsychology and organisational psychology. He has an impressive CV in community involvement and is currently volunteering at Lifeline. He felt the program was life changing and he certainly gained much to assist him with leadership from the speakers he heard during that week.Chris Skelleran is currently studying for a B. Engineering (Hons) combined with a B. Science (Advanced). The RYLA program has had a profound effect on him so much so he is reconsidering his future over time. Again, the speakers at the program provided him with an input that provided this thinking. He was inspired by certain speakers that opened up opportunities he had not considered before. Both made many new friendships and have met with them since the program. They were very grateful for the opportunity to participate in the program. Both these young men will be successful, and we wish them the very best.Yvonne

WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HEAR THAT ​LINDFIELD ROTARY'S YVONNE TAYLOR​HAS BEEN NAMED​THE 2018 LOCAL WOMAN OF THE YEARBY DAVIDSON STATE LIBERAL MP JONATHAN O'DEA.

Mr O'Dea said MS Taylor was presented with the title for her dedication to "inspiring youth from all classes and cultures to contribute to their local communities" Yvonne is a dedicated teacher of ​about 30 years who has worked as an english ESL educator and as an assistant school principal. She served on the ministerial committee overseeing the first Aboriginal Education Curriculum for NSW and is still involved in the peer support program at Killara High School.

​Yvonne has been an an active and hardworking member of Lindfield Rotary Club for many years. She has been president twice, is currently club director for youth service, is on the club executive for membership, has chaired the Rotary Youth Leadership award for her district and has campaigned strongly against the practice of female genital mutilation.

​She is an excellent choice for this award.

Yvonne and Martha with our sponsored students Chris & Dean at the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards. RYLA is one of the most widespread and well recognised Rotary programs in Australia​for young adults.

Mohan Baveja

Mohan Baveja passed away unexpectedly just recently. As a long standing member of our club he initiated and watched over the cleft palate program which was organised in partnership with the Rotary Club of Belur in India He was an excellent Rotary member and he will be sorely missed.

.​Michael Shepherd shares a letter of condolence from the Rotary Club of Belur on the passing of Mohan Baveja. Dear Michael,It is a shocking news. Yet, Mohan ji has completed a great innings worthy of a noble person. Please convey my deepest condolences to his wife and family members, as well as your Club members. I have circulated this information to the entire club.Warm regardsVishnu Dhandhania​

We received this letter not long before before Mohan's death

Congratulations to Mike and MohanThe good news that the Foundation has accepted this Cleft Palate Global Grant’s final report and the Project is now closed.210 children received remedial surgery for their deformities under this project.Michael Shepherd

From the FoundationMany thanks to all the Rotarians who gave their time, funds, and expertise to implement this grant. Your contributions support The Rotary Foundation's mission to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.

The Social Committeeheld a meeting on the 15th of January @KGCPresent: Neryl, Chris Clifford, David Morris. Leon Lurie, Joy Saunders​Apologies: David Blackwell, Robyn Hearder

BUNNINGS BBQ

We were brave enough to organise a BBQ and cake stall at Bunnings on the last Saturday before Christmas. Despite the heat and the rush, it turned out to be really profitable and lots of fun.

Our Lindfield Rotary Club member, Martha Telez, is in Mexico at the moment drumming up support for her orphan's choir project. She sent us these photos to show us more about her initiative.

The following section of this page is designed to give you an "up and personal" idea of the very wide scope of our activities.It is a bit like a blog, a miscellaneous collection of articles about some of our regular activities and some of the groups we assist on a regular basis. ​These groups include:

AUSTRALIAN ACTIVITIES​KYDS: counselling service which provides assistance to young people at risk and their families. Lindfield Rotary was instrumental in the formation of KYDS. To date our donations have totalled over one hundred thousand dollars.

​FRESH TRACKS: supports the rehabilitation of people with acquired brain injury. Lindfield Rotary provided a specially designed recumbent cycle and a new hoist for patients.

MEALS ON WHEELS: helped fund a new van for Meals on Wheels to service the North Shore.

​GRAFFITI: removal services within the local community.

​KU-RING-GAI HORNSBY WOMEN"S SHELTER: financial support for this important community service.

INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITITIES​LAOS: construction of water supply for 5 impoverished villages in Lao PDR

SHELTER BOX: ​provides emergency shelter and support to victims of natural disaster and conflict. Lindfield Rotary Club has deployed 29 Shelter Boxes costing ​$30,000 to the Middle East, the Pacific, Africa and Korea. Go to Shelter Box on this site

POLIO ERADICATION: Rotary International's world wide polio eradication commenced in 1985 in partnership with the Bill Gates Foundation. Polio cases have reduced over that period from 350,000 annually to less than 11 last year.

Now in its 23rd year, the Lindfield Rotary Fun Run is firmly established as a leading eventin NSW sporting calendars.​All profits are used in support of local community charitable activities and other Rotary projects.​

Family time at the tail end of the start of the 5k run

This favourite community event blasted off fromRoseville Oval, Clanville Road, Roseville,at 8am, on Sunday the 9th of April 2017

We held a really happy and successful annual Bridge Day this year. It has been very popular over the years and was booked out once again in 2017.

It’s a great Club day with the men dressing formally in their black trousers, white shirts and black bow ties serving lunch and drinks. This is much appreciated by the mainly female players. The women members of our Club form a very efficient Kitchen Team and operate a well laden Trading Table.

​The Trade Table raised $251.50, the raffle raised $1,385, including the auction of the Theatre Tickets. The tables raised $4,800 and Direct Donations amounted to $1,455 for KYDS and $11,400 for Shelterbox. We were able to support our 2 charities generously.

SHELTER BOX

​HURRICANE HARVEY

WREAKS HAVOC IN TEXAS

A ShelterBox Response Team is in Texas after Hurricane Harvey began unleashing an unprecedented amount of rainfall.Houston, the USA’s fourth largest city is underwater, while a year’s worth of rain is predicted to fall over Texas and Louisiana. More than 30,000 people have already been forced from their homes. We’re used to working hard to understand the needs of families affected by different and complex emergencies, and are prepared to respond quickly around the world.That’s why we’re working with our colleagues in the USA, along with local authorities and Texan-based ShelterBox Response Team Members to understand how we can help. As the flooding is covering large swathes of land and is set to worsen in the coming days, families are being evacuated to collective centres. While our usual ShelterBoxes and ShelterKits are not appropriate for the current situation, we are helping to make people more comfortable and secure.We’re sending hundreds of smaller, simpler tents from unused stock in our Cornish warehouse to be used inside. They will offer families a private space to help recover from such a traumatic event, while dealing with challenging circumstances. This is an approach that we used to support people following the Japanese Tsunami in 2011. The tents will also be used as spaces for counselling families and to provide rest spaces for aid workers and emergency services.

The Lake Chad Basin countries of Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger are enduring a severe and oft ignored crisis. Up to 17 million people are affected by extreme climatic shocks and the threat of extremist terrorism. Over 3 million have unmet shelter needs. ShelterBox has been working with IEDA in Cameroon since 2015 helping Nigerian refugees fleeing Boko Haram violence. Train the trainer sessions have helped IEDA make the most of the ShelterKits distributed for the first time in the country. Meanwhile, 100 SchoolBoxes, 660 AMG Relief tents and 1320 hygiene kits are en route for distribution.

DAFFODIL DAY

Members of Lindfield Rotary Club always help the Cancer Council on Lindfield Station, on Daffodil Day

YOUTH AND SCHOOLS

YOUTH SERVICE UPDATEPEER SUPPORT PRESENTATION

THE GLOBAL INITIATIVE

TO ERADICATE POLIO

Lindfield Rotary supports this initiative. We are a part of the team responsible for the huge reduction of polio cases around the world shown in this countdown.

SENIORS LUNCH

Lindfield Rotary sponsored a seniors lunch for 31 elderly men and women recently. The lunch was held at the Ku-ring-gai Meals on Wheels facility in Turramurra. A sumptuous lunch was provided, consisting of a glass of sherry on arrival, a main course of steak and kidney pie and a glass of wine. Desert was a delicious panacotta. Trish and John assisted with serving the meals while Joy took photos and President Bruce socialised with the guests. The Sydney Sider's mens' choir provided great entertainment. A community bus provided transport to and from the lunch.

The Rotary Leadership Institute course

The Rotary Leadership Institute course is now run over two days, power packed with information, learning and skills you can use in your Rotary life straight away.

Networking with other Rotarians and led by experienced facilitators, you are sure to enjoy what others are describing as the best Rotary training they have had. Register online now at rli.rotarydistrict9685.org.au and supercharge your Rotary.

There is one course available for registration:RLI 47 - Saturday 5 and 19 May 2018

BRADFIELD SEMINAR SERIES

The Former Australian Ambassador to Israel, Mr Dave Sharma will speak on the topicof Making Sense of the Middle East: Opportunities and Challenges forAustralian Foreign Policy as part of the Bradfield Seminar Series. PROBUS and Rotary members may find this seminar of interest! There is no charge to attend this event, but RSVP is essential as numbers are limited.

​will be taking place on the 17 March 2018at Sydney Town Hall. This is a Conference you do not want to miss with this being one of the six Rotary Peace Conferences to be held across the globe.

BARRY HAS ORGANISED THE DONATION OF USED TENNIS BALLS TO THE ACTIVE HEALTH PROGRAM

Another good news story from Lindfield Rotary. Barry Ng has organised used tennis balls to be donated to Active Health for use in their Disadvantaged Indigenous Youth program. This is another example of Lindfield Rotary facilitating a beneficial outcome for a program which we are supporting financially.RegardsBruce

Anne Boyd is one of Australia’s most distinguished composers and music educators. Her research focuses on the influences of landscape and Asian music on Australian composers.

​Recent publications include: ‘Landscape, Spirit and Music–An Australian Story’ in The Soundscapes of Australia (ed. Fiona Richards, Ashgate: 2007) and ‘Dreaming Voices: Australia and Japan’ in Intercultural Music: Creation and Interpretation (ed. Macarthur, Crossman and Morelos, Australian Music Centre: 2006).

In 1990, Boyd became the first Australian (and the first woman) to be appointed Professor of Music at the University of Sydney. Before this, Boyd was the Foundation Head of the Department of Music at the University of Hong Kong from 1981–90 and taught at the University of Sussex from 1972–77.

Professor Boyd was honoured with an AM in the Order of Australia in 1996, and an Hon DUniv from York for her services to composition and music education in 2003. In 2005 she received the Distinguished Services to Australian Music Award at the APRA-AMC Classical Music Awards.

​This article can be found in the Blister: - www.sydneystriders.org.au/ ​

A recent pic of our BBQ Team

Dear friendsThanks very much to all of you who were able to help today. It was a very cold day except for those who were cooking! It was quite slow, selling about half a normal weekend's amount of sausages and not many drinks. But because Bunnings paid for everything, income was pure profit.We made a total profit of $1,159.60. This included donations of $32.65.Thanks again.Looking forward to doing it all again on Sunday!Chris

KEVIN BEATS INJURYWITH A DRIVE​TO THRIVE

Kevin Luu will compete theGold Coast Airport 42km Marathon to helpthe Royal North Shore Hospital that aided his recovery following​a severe brain injury.Kevin went from a university student, working two jobs​and was an avid cyclist to becoming an incumbentpatient. Kevin has now returned to University to study Exercise Physiology.

​

A NEW VEHICLE FOR MEALS ON WHEELS

Lindfield Rotary gave a major contribution towards this new Meals on Wheels vehicle. ​It was handed over to its new owners last Saturday. Hon. Paul Fletcher, Federal member for Bradfield and Minister for Urban Infrastructure said the project ticked all boxes in the Governments grants scheme of volunteer groups helping local charities.Mayor Anderson said the Meals on Wheels kitchen benefitted from an upgrade carried out with Council assistance last year and had a fully qualified chef supervising menu options. Roseville Chase Rotary Club President, Peter Lewis said "Meals on Wheels was a ‘pillar of our community’ and the service was in a growth period. Through the Rotary Clubs' fund raising of $52,000 we are able to contribute to the local community’s needs. We have developed strategic partnerships that allow us to work with like- minded organisations and achieve an even greater impact ".

It was a very hot day for the Bunnings BBQ. Thanks very much to all who came and sweltered!!!!!We sold a record amount of soft drink and received many donations.Special thanks to Robin and Judy for travelling so far and to Ami who sweated over the BBQ for 2 hours.Well done everyone​Chris

​

FRESH TRACKS

​ KYDS Counselling, now available in Hornsby

Emily and Kym are seeing clients in Hornsby on Tuesdays & Wednesdays

​Before and After- Rotary clean up in the laneway of Gordon BunningsGreat work John and Crew ​

HISTORY OF WOMEN IN ROTARY ​(Rotary International Archives)

The 1989 Council on Legislation vote to admit women into Rotary clubs worldwide remains a watershed moment in the history of Rotary."My fellow delegates, I would like to remind you that the world of 1989 is very different to the world of 1905. I sincerely believe that Rotary has to adapt itself to a changing world," said Frank J. Devlyn, who would go on to become RI president in 2000-01.The vote followed the decades-long efforts of men and women from all over the Rotary world to allow for the admission of women into Rotary clubs, and several close votes at previous Council meetings.The response to the decision was overwhelming: By June 1990, the number of female Rotarians had skyrocketed to over 20,000. By 2010, the number of women was approaching 200,000.

Excerpt from a letter written by the Head Teacher, Mr Sigarara C Maisamos"Sirs and Madams​My regards to all the good lending hands that gave this huge donation to​our school, for we know that without your help, our school will spend a huge amount of money buy-in fuel. Thank you so much for everything, may God bless your organization"

AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR 2017​​EMERITUS Professor Alan Mackay-Sim

​Biomedical scientist treating spinal cord injuries

​An inspirational scientist and international leader in stem cell research, Professor Alan Mackay-Sim has given hope to thousands of Australians with spinal cord injuries. A global authority on the human sense of smell and the biology of nasal cells, Alan led the world’s first clinical trial using these cells in spinal cord injury. In 2014, Alan’s research helped play a central role in proving the safety of science that was a precursor Dr Tabakow in Poland undertaking the first successful restoration of mobility in a quadriplegic man. As the director of the National Centre for Adult Stem Cell Research for a decade, Alan’s research has championed the use of stem cells to understand the biological bases of brain disorders and diseases such as schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease and Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia. Alan’s pioneering work has led to collaborations with teams of health professionals who are translating his research into clinical practice. He has laid the foundation for the next generation of researchers and demonstrated the value of inquiry, persistence and empathy. Professor Mackay-Sim is the third son of our Past President, the late Malcolm Mackay-Sim and was raised in Roseville Avenue. Alan has for many years resided and worked in Queensland, sadly Malcolm missed this great honour bestowed on his son by a mere four months, however, he was aware that Alan had been awarded the honour of Queenslander of the Year in 2003. PDG Don Durie

President Bruce and BBQ King Chris, present the Rotary Community Service award toBunnings employee, Joe Micali, pictured here with colleagues.

HOW AND WHEN ROTARY ENTERED RUSSIA

Figuratively speaking we knocked at the door of the Kremlin in the fall of 1989 when RI President Hugh Archer with the help of Past RI President Rolf Klärich visited Moscow for the first time. Before that there had been many attempts to start Rotary clubs in various parts of USSR. Many Finnish and Swedish PDGs and other Rotarians had since 1983 tried to introduce Rotary into Russia, but of course the RI Board wanted to keep matters in their own hands. The Board declared 4 conditions for chartering Rotary clubs. They were: a) Freedom of meeting and speechb) Freedom of selecting membership without government interferencec) Freedom of travel and visiting other clubs.d) Right to pay membership dues to RI and participation in contributions to RI and TRF in convertible currencies. These conditions were revolutionary in USSR at that time. Even Duma (Parliament) enacted Rotary, which allowed non-political foreign organizations NGOs come to USSR. (Now today this law is again in Duma, but unfortunately going to the regulating direction) In March 1990 President Hugh Archer and PRIP Rolf Klärich were invited to Moscow as guests of the USSR Government. There they met Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Petrovski and agreed with him all the Rotary conditions to enter USSR. It was also agreed that the first Rotary club would be chartered in Moscow and then afterwards about 10 clubs in other big cities and mainly in he capitals of Soviet states. It was further agreed that these around 10 Rotary clubs could work about two years, after which they are examined by both parties and judged, do they suit in the Soviet society and Rotary world. If both parties accept them, they can continue their existence. The first Rotary club in USSR was chartered on the 5th of June 1990 in Moscow. USSR collapsed in December 1991.

Rotary: Making a Difference Rotary International President-elect Ian H.S. Riseley made the case on Monday that protecting the environment and curbing climate change are essential to Rotary’s goal of sustainable service. Riseley, a member of the Rotary Club of Sandringham, Victoria, Australia, unveiled the 2017-18 presidential theme, Rotary: Making a Difference, to incoming district governors at Rotary’s International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA. Environmental degradation and global climate change are serious threats to everyone, Riseley said. “They are having a disproportionate impact on those who are most vulnerable, those to whom Rotary has the greatest responsibility. Yet environmental issues rarely register on the Rotary agenda,” he said. See more at: http://rotarydistrict9685.org.au/stories/rotary-making-a-difference-in-2017

Lindfield Rotary – Foundation Grants in Recent Years. Matching Grant,Project: Funding remediate surgery for poor children with cleft lip and cleft palates in West Bengal, IndiaProject value 15,000 USDInvolvement: Lindfield and one host Rotary Club In India Global Grant,Project: Construction running water supply for 5 remote villages in Lao Democratic Republic Project value 81,000 USDInvolvement: Lindfield, lead Club of Mosman, 9 other Australian Rotary Club, and two host Rotary Clubs and 3 Districts Global Grant,Project: Funding remediate surgery for poor children with cleft lip and cleft palates in West Bengal, IndiaProject value 49,000 USDInvolvement: Lindfield, one other Australian Rotary Club and one host Rotary Club In India Australian District Grant,Project: Development of a web site for Fresh Tracks, an organisation that helps brain injured people regain mobility, confidence and wellbeingProject value A$4,000Involvement: Lindfield Rotary Club International District Grant,Project: Repair of remote Fijian school solar system following cyclone Winston Project value A$6,000Involvement: Lindfield Rotary Club Global Grant,Project: Funding remediate surgery for poor children with cleft lip and cleft palates in West Bengal, IndiaProject value 31,000 USDInvolvement: Lindfield and one host Rotary Club In India Total Project Value A$10,000 and 192,000 USDTotal Direct Project Funding made by Lindfield Rotary to the above projects A$16,500

We had a really successful BBQ at Bunnings on Saturday. Many thanks to all who helped.

Paul Harris Fellowships and Rotary Foundation Giving The Rotary Foundation (TRF) is our charity. Donations are welcome from Clubs, Rotarians and the public.Without these donations, Rotarians would be very limited in their ability to ‘do good in the world’. TRF is a top rated charity, - over 94% of funds raised go to the beneficiary, - very few charities do better, and - donations are tax deductable. TRF has a recognition system to recognise the contributions a donor makes. The donor can choose to either keep private or display or make public such recognition. The recognition system:* Centurion – A$100 in a year (Australia only, all others are part of a worldwide system) * Sustaining Member – USD 100 in a year* Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) – USD 1000* Paul Harris Society Member – USD 1000 each year* Major Donor L1 – USD 10,000* Major Donor L2 – USD 25,000 (plus L3 50K and L4 100K)* Arch C Klump Society – USD 250,000 Giving PHF awards as recognition of service ‘doing good in the world’ only occurs in Australia. To be able to make this award, the Club must have donated USD 1,000 to TRF. In my time in Rotary, every recipient of a PHF award has greatly appreciated and respected this award. I see no diminution of its status as recognition of service as a result of PHF also being used in the donor recognition system. Giving to TRF allows Rotarians to continue ‘do more good in the world’. The more that is given, the more we can do. Michael Shepherd Foundation Chair

BLUE MOUNTAINS PROMOTING ROTARY

With the assistance of Tom Colless OAM, and his company Colless Foods, Katoomba, Central Blue Mountains Rotary have established what might be a “first” in Australia - a mobile billboard that promotes Rotary and urges people to join our community of leaders and take action at home and around the world.The massive signage on each side of the truck is 30 feet long and 9 feet tall. It cannot be missed. The truck travels the Great Western Highway and into Greater Sydney four days a week. It’s estimated life span is 10 years. Give the driver a wave next time you see it.

MINES VICTIMS AND CLEARANCE

Our work in Phonsavan, Laos listed under the current MOU is drawing to a close with only minor works left to complete. Work will commence shortly on the urgent repairs to the Phoukood Hospital, which is not listed as part of the MOU but is being undertaken as an urgent task. A big thanks to the donors who have contributed $5,500 towards the $8,000 required. MiVAC has been requested to bring clean water to a further 10 villages at an estimated cost of US$575,000. We are appealing for donors who may be able to fund one or more of the 10 proposed. There are some rather difficult problems to overcome as some of these impoverished villages are situated in challenging locations and of course the proliferation of UXO’s (some found even inside a village). I have personally visited 6 of these villages and look forward to accomplishing the supply of this vital necessity so often taken by us in the West for granted. I take this opportunity to personally thank our LOPM Terry Moore who has resided for the last 12 months as our volunteer in residence. He has done an outstanding job for which we are so grateful. He is a popular visitor to many villages and is highly sought as a judge of Lao whisky. Perhaps only those of us who have worked in that environment can fully appreciate the difficulties and trying situations that keep popping up. 3 years to register our vehicle! It would be remiss of me not to mention Mr. Moua, our local Project Manager, who was taken from obscurity to now command love and respect from so many of his countrymen. Mr. No and more recently, Mr. Mea ably assist him. Please take time to review the attached report and photos and celebrate our successes. If you are able give financial support you may do so through our web site or phone me on the number shown below. Cheers,Peter PerryMiVAC Board Chairman

Thank you all so much, especially wives and partners, for your contribution to yesterday’s success. I needed all the help I could get and managed to muddle my way through. I for one appreciate all that Chris & Jane and Neryl do to make these Bunnings BBQ events such an important facet of our club’s fundraising. We managed to make $1,200 on what was the most miserable day this May weatherwise. We had a slow start and an even slower finish but were very busy from 11am to just after 2pm. Special thanks to George Deverell who knows some of Chris’s inner secrets, Robin and Judy who came own from beautiful Bateau Bay to crappy old Chatswood and Tim Gordon who turned up unannounced to ease the pressure during the busy lunchtime period.Bruce DowlingPresident Elect/BBQ Organiser Retired

GRAFFITI

Clean up with St Ives Rotary

​GOOD JOB JOHN AND THANK YOU

PATIENT FROM SOLOMON ISLANDS DUE ASAP FOR HEART SURGERY IN MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

I am writing to you and your members because I know they support ROMAC 100%! Currently ROMAC is in urgent need of ‘Host Parents’ for one of its children and her mother.ROMAC has a Child coming into Sydney in the very near future, who is scheduled for heart surgery at the Macquarie University Hospital, North Ryde. Lolita is 17 years of age, and is suffering from a heart defect. Her mother will accompany her. They are from the Solomon Islands and both speak English very well.Unusually heart operations are quicker from start to finish, than other surgeries we experience. So we are anticipating a two-night stay with Host Parents, then into Hospital for approximately 7 days, then two weeks with the Host Parents, then flights home.

Transport and accompaniment to and from the hospital will be arranged by the local ROMAC manager who will also support the Host Parents where required. Would you please send this message out to all your members, some of whom have previously expressed to me their willingness to ‘Host Parent’ a ROMAC child. And could you please bring this email to the notice of your members at your next Club meeting for their reaction. If you can help this family, please contact Philip Smith Mobile 0419203020, d9685chair@romac.org.au ​

OUR JOINT CLEFT PALATE PROJECT WITH THE ROTARY CLUB OF BELUR IN KOLKATA, INDIA

This joint project is now underway with some 30 patients undergoing remedial surgery in the past 6 weeks. Very professional medical staff at the Shree Jain and Seva Niketan Hospitals in Kolkata has carried out these surgeries. The patients come from poor rural villages in the State of West Bengal, India. Cleft lips and palates are a congenital abnormality occurring in about 0.2% of births. Remedial surgery can effectively correct this abnormality. The children in poor rural Indian villages don’t have this option and hence suffer feeding and speech problems, increased infections and social isolation.

Before

After

Fiji ‘Power to Learn’ Rotary Project

Lindfield Rotary help to supply solar panels to remote Fijiian schools with no access to power. This school was all but destroyed by the recent Fijian cyclone, yet the newly installed solar panels survived the devastation. Well done to everyone involved. The Yingli solar panels and Clenergy mountings were clearly a good choice to begin with.For more information on this project go to Fiji Power to Learn project

Lindfield Rotary help supply solar panel installations to isolated schools in Fiji.We received this really heartwarming card, thanking us, from the children of Bouma.Go to Fiji Power to Learn project, on this website, for more information on this initiative.

RYLA

RYLA is one of the many ways that Rotary invests in the local community. This year RYLA brought together young leaders aged 18-26 from around NSW, in order to equip us with skills to make a positive impact on those around us.​We had a wide range of speakers come speak to us, from people in the Army to a church Reverend, who inspired us to seek to serve others and they shared skills they have learnt about community leadership. Moreover, we participated in intense group challenges which pushed us to see what our own leadership strengths and weaknesses were.

OUTSTANDING TRAINING RESULT FOR INTERPLAST

Fijian physiotherapist Alena has been working with Interplast teams for three years, in particular with Interplast volunteer physiotherapist Mrs Jennifer Ball, who visits Fiji on a regular basis. Alena has been identified as one of the senior physiotherapists by the Colonial War Memorial (CWM) Hospital, and is now the key referral point for local surgeons for the rehabilitation of hand and burns patients. The head of the Physiotherapy Department at the hospital, and Jenny, identified that Alena would benefit greatly from a training attachment in Australia, supported by Interplast’s physiotherapy and hand therapy volunteers, with a particular focus on hand management and burns. Interplast was extremely grateful that our Rotary District generously funded this program to provide an invaluable training opportunity for Alena. Over the last two years, our District raised approximately $58,000 for Interplast. These monies were and are being spent on sending a team to Kiribati (in 2016) and bringing Alena to Hobart and Melbourne for skill upgrading in August 2015.

DISTRICT 9685 CLUB CHILD PROTECTION POLICYWHY LINDFIELD SHOULD ADOPT THIS DOCUMENT.

As you are aware the 12 month period for Volunteers to register their names to obtain a Working with Children Check has now ended (31st March 2016) and all Rotarians who work with children are required to have a WWC number. Recently it was learned that each Rotary Club needed a written Child Protection Policy which included a policy on what to do if there was an incident during any child related activity. The Office of the Children's Guardian who are responsible for overnighting this important practice will now conduct a random audit of those organisations which have child related activities including Rotary Clubs and Rotary Districts that run District events such as Youth Exchange, RYLA, RYPEN, MUNA and any other similar event where the Club/District has control of a child related activity. The Office of the Children's Guardian has increased the fine for noncompliance from $10.000 to 22,000. When we looked at what we currently have by way of compliance to Rotary standards that have been met over a number of years, clubs did not have by way of compliance to Rotary standards to be considered adequate under the New South Wales Legislation. State Legislation must be followed before any Rotary procedures come into play. The Rotary Club of the Lower Blue Mountains has put together a team who have analysed the legislation and written a policy which covers all aspects of the State legislation. This policy is now on the District Website in Word format. This document will save a lot of heartache if the Office of Children's Guardian of your club procedures undertakes a random audit.

Lindfield East Public School Fete

​A warm sunny day provided excellent conditions for the fete. We were again in charge of the Fairy Floss which really has its challenges especially when the queue is long and to produce each coated stick requires special skills. It appears that both Dean and Clive are the Fairy Floss experts with others taking on the challenge which is not so easy. Andrew Stevenson, Principal of the school will acknowledge our assistance in the next newsletter and was most appreciative of our help. My sincere thanks to Michael Shepherd and Garry for setting up and doing the first shift, Dean John, Trish, Barry and Roxanne for the next, Bruce and Sue assisted me, Clive, Chris and Jane finished the day with Bruce returning to assist with the packing up. A special thank you to Chris and Jane for returning to assist from Newcastle. This was an important community activity to show that we involve ourselves across many areas in our locality and endeavour to ensure that Rotary and its community involvement is aiming to encourage others to participate with us​Yvonne

Lindfield Rotary Club joined this campaign

POLIO NEWS BREAK … POLIO NEWS BREAK … POLIO NEWS BREAK …

In a major breakthrough in the world Polio Eradication campaign, it was announced on Friday that Nigeria has now gone ONE YEAR with NO new cases of the wild poliovirus!

Making the announcement, Rotary International senior leaders – President Ravi Ravindran and The Rotary Foundation Chairman Ray Klinginsmith – pointed out that it was only a decade ago that polio struck 12,631 people in Africa – three quarters of all cases in the world.

President Ravindran and Chairman Klinginsmith congratulated Rotarians around the world who have now donated $688.5 million to fight polio throughout Africa, including more than $200 million in Nigeria.

If the stringent World Health Organisation testing criteria are met, Nigeria could be removed from the list of polio-endemic countries in September this year, leaving just Pakistan and Afghanistan as the only two remaining polio-endemic countries.

District 9685 Rotary Foundation Chairman PDG Tony Castley added his congratulations to those of our world leaders and urged District TRF Chairman and Club Presidents not to take the situation for granted.

“We must continue to intensify our fund raising efforts and increase public awareness that Rotary and its global partners are winning the war against Polio!

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN LAOS​

Pipeline. Over 9km of of 63mm pipeline being laid.

Here is a brief update on progress of the Poverty Reduction Project in LaosLindfield Rotary Club has joined with 5 other clubs in Eastern Australia (District 9685), 5 clubs in Western Australia (District 3360) plus clubs in Chiangmai (Thailand) and Vientiane (Laos) to obtain a Global Grant for basic development of water supply and sanitation infrastructure in impoverished areas of Laos. The work is being undertaken in partnership with an NGO, called MiVAC (Mines Victims and Clearance ), who undertake much of the operational aspects of the project.

After extensive negotiation with the Laotian government over many months, MiVAC has recently been successful in establishing a Memorandum of Understanding which permits work to commence.

Work has now commenced on the first village, Ban Naxaythong in Xiengkhouang Provence. Attached photos indicate the construction of headworks for the water supply and laying of water supply pipeline. As with previous work undertaken by our club in Laos, the labour is provided at no cost to the project by the people who benefit from it.

If you would like further information or to provide much needed financial support to this project, please contact Hugh Hamlyn-Harris of Lindfield Rotary Club. For more information about Rotary work in Laos go to the "Our overseas activities" page on this website. /international-activities.html

THE VANUATU TRIO

MIVAC

MIVAC is the organisation with whom Rotary has partnered to undertake aid work in Laos. MIVAC consists of mainly ex-military people, many of whom have taken part in conflicts in Asia, Afghanistan, Iraq etc.You may consider that the following description of the Modern Australian soldier could be ameaningful addition to our club mag or webpage. From a few of the words, it looks like it may​have originated in the USA, but it is still relevant to the Australian infantry.